Poration



March 19, 1929.

w. F. LLOYD ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed Feb. 4, 1927 wuewtoz Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FOLWELL LLOYD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COOPER GOR- PORATION, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH.

Application filed February 4, 1927. Serial No. 165,916.

The invention relates to a double pole and plural contact reversibly operative snap switch for electric circuit control.

The object of the invention is to provide 6 a plural contact reversibly rotative snap switch, either a single or double pole control, of simple and compact structure.

- Another object of the invention is to provide an electric switch wherein a plurality 10 of relatively spaced stationary contacts are radially disposed about the axis of a reversibly rotative movable contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotative movable contact of an electrio switch with ratchet and spring tension pawl mechanism, the pawl actuated by a rotative trip member for releasing the pawl from the ratchet and for windin up or increasing the tension of a spring or quickly actuating the pawl from one ratchet step to a second in its arc of movement, and correspondingly moving the movable contact, the trip member and spring influence being similarly effective in reverse rotations of the trip member.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a central section through the switch.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the switch. Figure 3 is a front elevation of the switch. Figure 4 is a detailed view of an insulator disk for connecting the movable contact to the operating shaft or spindle.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one member of the movable contact.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66, Figure 1.

unit, under rotative snap impulses in moving from one contact to a second and reversibly as to direction of rotation. The contacts are engaged by the contactor in a successive order, both in forward or rotative rotation w1thin the operating limits of the contactor, constltuting a portion of the rotative cycle. The switch, however, for other uses may be organized for a single pole contact control or it may be enlarged, increasing the number of sets of contacts and contactors for either single or double pole control.

The switch as illustrated comprises a cylindrical casing 1 of insulated material cast to form a casing consisting of two cup shaped sections joined together by bolts 2 extending through the walls of the sections longitudi- 05 nally of the casing. Each section is provided with a recessed head 3 formed integral with the section so that the casing completely houses the contactor actuating mechanism installed within the casing, forming a very 7 compact structure.

The switch is of duplex type having plural sets of contacts recessed into the opposite ends of the casing preferably outside of the casing headswhich are the duplicate of each 7 other in construction. The detailed description thereof for the present purpose is confined to the singular, that is, to one set of contacts and its contactor, the contacts of both sets being in a relative and corresponding arrangement recessed into their respective ends of the casing. Such arrangement, however, may be variously modified to meet the various conditions for which the switch may be utilized and, likewise, the number of con- 35 tacts to a set may be of any number within an operating range of a given size of switch, or to meet the special conditions.

Each end of the casing is provided with a plurality of radial notches 4 for seating and mounting the stationary contacts 5 respectively, the walls of: the notches securing the contacts against lateral displacement and the opposite ends of the contacts extending beyond the wall lines of the casing so as to be accessible at their outer ends for making stationary contacts 8'is arranged to be in constant contact or circuit connection with the movable contactor and, therefore, is of greater length or extends inwardly a greater degree than the contacts 5. The movable contactor comprises a pair of plateser disks clamped together and between which the contacts are engaged to insure eflicient conductivity.

The disks represent stam ings having a centrally depressed or em ossed portion which relatively engage or abut each other and are provided with annular flared margins of segmental form between which the stationary contact 8 engages. This marginal portion of the disks is of segmental form and of a diameter clearing the stationary contacts 5. The disks are further provided with the radial extending fingers 6 for engaging: the stationary contacts 5, the ends of the fingers being provided with angular tangs erving as guides to direct the knife or blade edge of the stationary contacts between the fingers 6. The fingers 6 are flexible to com-- pressively engage the contactor and only enh gage one of the contacts 5 at a time for establishing or completing a circuit between the contact 8 and a selected contact 5. The movable contactor is operated under rotative motion in reversible directions so that the fingers of the movable contactor engage the contacts 5 in a successive order as the movable contactor is operated. The disks of the movable contactor are mounted upon an insulator bushing 11 and between a pair of insulator disks 12 to insulate the same from a sleeve or hub 13 of the actuator mechanism upon which the disks of the movable contactor are mounted and to which it is transmittently connected.

The bushing and insulator disks have a key connection with the sleeve or hub 13 and are each provided with a pair of notches 15 into which outwardly flaring tangs 14: of the contactor disks engage for rotatively connecting the contactor disks with the insulator disks. The construction of the parts of the movable contactor, as described. enables the same to be made of stampings, easily assembled and combines the same as a unit. with the current carrying or electric conducting parts insulated from the non-current carrying parts and actuator mechanism. The sleeve or hub 13 forms apart of a yoke shaped crank or pawl carrier 16 extending from one limb of the crank or pawl carrier. A similar or second sleeve or hub extends from the opposite limb upon which a second movable contactor member is mounted for cooperating movement of the pawl carrier.

with a second set of contacts. The sleeves or hubs 13 are loosely journalled upon a s indle 17 which extends beyond one end of t e casing and is provided with a knob 18 b which the parts are manually operated. 'ITie sleeves or hubs 13 respectively enga e through and may also be journalled in tiie end walls of the casing, bringing the actuating mechanism within the casing and the movable contactors exterior of the casing walls. The crank or pawl carrier '16 extends about a stationary ratchet member or plate 20 which is secured to the casing and between the abutting edges of the sections of the casing, its inner end of circular outline and provided with a series or plurality of notches 21 arranged in stepped degree corresponding to the contact spacing and to the member thereof for automatically arresting the motion of the movable contactor in throwing the movable contactor from ,one contact to a second.

The crank or pawl carrier 16 has its limbs slotted 2%,- receive the pintle ends of a roller pawl 22 which is adapted to engage into the notches of the ratchet plate for limiting the The pawl carrier is operated under the tension of a pair of springs 23 arranged at opposite sides of the stationary ratchet member, each spring being coiled about the axis of the pawl and as its opposite ends bent into hook form en gaged over the roller pawl and against a laterallv extending tang 24 of a cam plate 25 fixed to the spindle 17. As shown, a pair of springs and cam plates are employed and arranged at opposite sides of the stationary ratchet plate, producing a balanced condition for a freer operation of the parts. The pawl normally is engaged into one of the notches of the ratchet plate and upon rotation of the spindle in either direction the cams operate the roller pawl to elevate or withdraw the same from the notch and during such rotativc motion the spring is wound to store up sufficient tension for throwing the pawl or crank from one notch to a second. The pawl as soon as it is released from the circumferential portion of the ratchet plate between adjacent notches is free to engage into such successive notch with which it is brought into registration. thus locking the pawl to the stationary ratchet plate against rotation.

The springs and cams being the duplicate of each other and employed for balancing conditions, it follows that their operation is simultaneous, and reference need be only made to one cam and spring in describing the operation thereof. Upon the rotation of the spindle, the cam will move correspondingly with the spindle. whereby the laterally projecting tang which engages one end of the spring imparts a winding influence to the coil of the spring to increase each tension, the opposite end of the spring being hooked and engaged over the roller pawl which is arrested in motion by engagement into a notch of the stationary ratchet, thus locked until the cam has elevated the pawl sufiiciently to raisev it up out of the notch and released to permit the crank or pawl carrying arm to be moved until the pawl comes into registration with a second notch, whereupon it snaps into engagement with said second notch influenced by the action of the end of the spring which engages over the roller pawl. The laterally projecting tang of the cam, as in the case of the pawl, is engaged between the opposite ends of the spring so that a re-wind operation of the spring is effected in either forward or reverse directions of rotation of the spindle. In one direction one end of the spring is efiected for a re-wind operation of the spring coil, while the opposite end is arrested by the roller pawl, while alternately under a reverse action a reverse operation takes place. Thus, it will be recognized that the pawl is operated in stepped degrees, the spring advancing the pawl at a higher rate when disengaged from a notch then imparted by the movement of the operator in rotating the spindle so that the pawl snaps into engagement with a notch enabling the contactor to be operated in definite stepped degrees from one contact to a second,

The indicator disk or dial is engaged upon a screw bushing extending through a bridge plate 26 secured to an end of the casing, the bushing being concentric about the spindle and the dial frictionally clamped to the bridge plate by a nut 27 in threaded engagement with the screw bushing. Thus, the dial is rigidly mounted in set position, the frictional clamping means enabling the dial to be adjusted so that the indicator on the turning knob is brought into reading with the indicator positions of the dial corresponding to the settings of the contactor.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. Av rotary electric switch embodying a plurality of fixed terminals of blade formation disposed about a central operating spindle, a spindle suitably journalled, and apair of rotatable contacts in conductive engage ment carried by and insulated from said spindle and arranged to compress upon relative opposite sides of said terminals when in engagement therewith, and in constant engagement with one of said terminals.

2. In a rapid make and break rotary electric switch embodying a plurality of fixed contacts disposed about a central spindle, a rotative spindle, a movable contact concentrically upon said spindle adapted to be successively engaged with saidfixed contacts, a rigid ratchet about said spindle provided with a plurality of pawl engaging notches spaced relative to the spacing of said fixed contacts, a pawl carrier rotatable about said spindle having a pawl adapted to engage with the notches of said ratchet,said movable contact being fixed to said carrier, tension means for sa1d pawl and carrier, and a rota- I tive cam fixed uponsaid spindle for actuating said pawl to release it from its ratchet engagement and adapting the same to be rapid- 1y moved for automatically moving said car-' rier and pawl to a successive notch under tension of the spring and correspondingly rotating said movable contact.

3. In a rapid make and break rotar electric switch embodying a plurality o fixed contacts disposed about a central spindle, a rotative spindle, a movable contact adapted to be successively engaged with said fixed contacts, a rigid ratchet about said spindle provided with a plurality of pawl engaging notches spaced relative to the spacing of said fixed contacts, a pawl carrier connecting with said movable contact and journalled upon said spindle having a spring controlled pawl cooperating with the notches of said ratchet for locking said movable contact in set position, engaged with one of said fixed contacts, and a rotative cam fixed upon said spindle for actuating said pawl to release it from its ratchet engagement and adapting the same to be rapidly moved for automatically moving said carrier and pawl to a successive notch under tension of the spring and correspondingly rotating said movable contact.

4.. In a rapid make and break rotary electric switch embodying a plurality of fixed contacts disposed about a central spindle, a

rotative spindle, a movable contact swivelled upon said spindle to be successively engaged by said fixed contacts and carrying a pawl for locking the spindle in its adjusted positions, a stationary ratchet for said pawl, a spring coiled about the axis of said spindle and engaging relative opposing sides of said pawl for moving said pawl and movable contact in reversible directions from one ratchet step to a second, and means carried by said spindle for tripping the pawl and tensioning said spring in a rotative motion of the spindle.

5.'In a rotary electric switch embodying a plurality of fixed contacts disposed about a central spindle, a rotative spindle, a movable contact swivelled upon said spindle adapted to be successively engaged with said fixed contacts, stationary ratchet means for holding said movable contactin positions relatively to said fixed contacts, a pawl carrier movable as a unit with said movable contact, a pawl carried thereby for cooperation with said ratchet, a spring for forcibly moving said carrier and movable contact in reversible directions, and means fixed upon said spindle for releasing the pawl from the ratchet and tensioning said spring on imparting a step motion to the carrier and movable cont-act upon a partial rotation of the spindle. 6. In a rotary electric switch embodying a plurality of fixed contacts disposed about a central spindle, a rotative spindle, a movable contact swivelled upon said spindle versible directions, and means fixed upon said adapted to be successively engaged with said splndle for releasing the pawl from the 10 fixed contacts, stationary ratchet means for ratchet and tensloning said spring on imholding said movable contact in positions parting a step motion to the movable contact relatively to said fixed contacts, a pawl movupon a partial rotation of the spindle.

able as a unit with said movable contact 00- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe operating with said ratchet, a spring for my name.

forcibly moving said movable contact in re- WILLIAM FOLWELL LLOYD. 

